FORMER Mayor of Sefton David Pearson has quit the local Conservatives to run as an independent candidate in this year’s borough elections.

The Dukes ward councillor claims he was pushed out of the party after nearly 21 years of dedicated service.

The news comes a year after an extraordinary split saw three of the town’s longest serving councillors suspended from the Southport Conservative Association.

Hoping his supporters will continue to back him, Mr Pearson has written to ward members explaining his decision.

Speaking to the Visiter, he said: “I’ve always been a great believer in the ballot box and I’m willing to take my chances rather than being pushed out. I have a great wealth of experience on the council having represented Duke’s ward as a Conservative for nearly 21 years.”

Since last year Cllr Pearson, with colleagues Tom Glover and Sir Ron Watson, has been running as an “independent” Conservative.

But for Cllr Pearson to run in May he would have to separate from the Conservatives or make peace with the local party.

Deciding to go independent, the 77-year-old said: “My hope is that some of the many people I have helped over the years may feel that they can support me now. I’m not always successful, but I always try.”

The Conservatives lost five Sefton councillors in a tumultuous 2011. A bitter feud erupted in January when Cllrs Watson, Pearson and Glover quit Southport Conservative Association after being suspended for "a refusal to accept the authority" of the group's executive. It is believed they had refused to abide by controversial rules to fund the association with money siphoned from their Sefton Council allowances.

Cllr Pearson explained councillors were asked to pay money to the association – which he interpreted as money being taken from the electorate.

He said: “My main concern is at the moment I feel I’m being pushed out and I feel that if I’m not re-elected as an independent I’m happy, because the ballot box has proved one way or another and I have no problem with that.”

Southport Conservative Association chairman Cllr Terry Jones said he was disappointed, but the group had abided by party procedures.

Carl Cross, the party’s Merseyside Area Chairman reiterated the party had done nothing wrong and made every attempt to reconcile with Cllr Pearson.

He said: “We have done everything possible to accommodate Cllrs Glover and Pearson, and it’s extremely unfortunate they weren’t prepared to adhere to that.” Cllr Glover, who is also up for election this year, revealed he is still considering his options.